Local News Headlines – Wednesday, March 13

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED A DONATION OF PROPERTY TO THE D-N-R. 41 ACRES IN GREAT BEND TOWNSHIP WILL BE USED AS A SCIENTIFIC AND NATURAL AREA. AN EXEMPT GAMBLING PERMIT WAS APPROVED FOR THE MT LAKE GOLF COURSE. APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED FOR TWO CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, FOR A DWELLING ON A SHORELAND AREA IN MIDWAY TOWNSHIP, AND AN ADDITION TO A BUILDING IN GERMANTOWN TOWNSHIP. OPENINGS WERE POSTED FOR A HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AT THE WESTBROOK SHOP, AND AN OPENING FOR A SOLID WASTE TECHNICIAN.

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS A SPECIAL MEETING AT 6:30 TONIGHT AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS. BOARD MEMBERS WILL REVIEW THE BIDS THAT WERE RECEIVED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING. THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER WHETHER TO ACCEPT BIDS AND AWARD CONTRACTS. SOME PORTIONS MAY BE RE-BID IF NO BIDS WERE RECEIVED OR BIDS WERE OVER BUDGET. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ALSO EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE SALE OF TAX ABATEMENT BONDS, AND LONG-TERM FACILITY MAINTENANCE BONDS TO FUND FUTURE PROJECTS.

THE WINDOM PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETS AT 5:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER. THE MAIN ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ON A POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR NEW TENNIS AND PICKLE-BALL COURTS. THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN CONSIDERING TWO OPTIONS – A POSSIBLE LOCATION AT TEGELS PARK, AND A LOCATION NEAR THE SKATE PARK ABOVE THE WINDOM RECREATIONAL AREA. COMMISSION MEMBERS WILL REVIEW TENTATIVE COST ESTIMATES FOR DEVELOPING EACH SITE. SOME PUBLIC FEEDBACK WILL BE CONSIDERED.

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK. THE SCHOOL CALENDAR WAS ADJUSTED TO HELP MAKE UP TIME LOST DUE TO BAD WEATHER. STARTING THIS WEEK, FRIDAYS WILL BE A FULL CLASS DAY WITH NO EARLY RELEASE. APRIL 18TH HAS BEEN ADDED AS A STUDENT MAKE-UP DAY. THE BOARD APPROVED CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES WITH THE SOUTHWEST-WEST CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE FOR THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR. THE COST OF SERVICES WILL INCREASE BY 9.7%. A MOTION WAS APPROVED TO CREATE A NEW PEER COACHING POSITION. THE DISTRICT WILL COVER THE COST BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PARA-PROFESSIONALS.

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER IN WINDOM. THERE WILL BE A REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON ACTIVITIES IN JACKSON COUNTY IN 2018. THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF THREE VEHICLES. THERE WILL BE A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS.

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED THE RENEWAL OF LIQUOR, BEER AND WINE LICENSES. MEMBERS OF AN EMPLOYEES’ UNION PRESENTED A PETITION, ASKING THE BOARD TO PURSUE A WAGE AND COMPENSATION STUDY. A BID WAS AWARDED FOR A PROJECT TO SEAL-COAT ROUGHLY 61 MILES OF COUNTY ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. THE BOARD VOTED TO CREATE A NEW POSITION FOR A FULL-TIME PARKS SUPERVISOR AND VOTED TO CREASE A POSITION FOR A DEPUTY AUDITOR-TREASURER. 2019 DITCH BUDGETS WERE APPROVED.